Comparison of History and Fiction in Docudrama on Rescue of Danish Jews during the Holocaust

Transcription

1 Comparison of History and Fiction in Docudrama on Rescue of Danish Jews during the Holocaust Rabbi Dr. Chaim Simons P. O. Box 1775 Kiryat Arba

2 Introduction Numerous docudramas have been produced on historical events. In some cases, the contents closely resemble what actually occurred. In other cases, numerous fictional events are incorporated for dramatic effect. One such docudrama was produced relating the escape of Danish Jews to Sweden during the period of the Holocaust. In this paper, a detailed analysis will be made on this film to investigate which scenes are in fact historical and which are fictional. It must be stressed that this paper is not a comprehensive study of the rescue of Danish Jewry. Furthermore, historians discuss whether the Germans were aware of the Jews escaping to Sweden but in many cases closed their eyes to this fact, and this also includes Werner Best, the plenipotentiary appointed by Hitler to Denmark, who may have had political reasons to do so. All this is outside the scope of this paper. Brief Historical background One of the countries conquered by Nazi Germany during the early part of the Second World War was Denmark. For the first three years, Denmark was allowed to continue to run its own affairs and the Jews were not persecuted. All this changed in autumn 1943, when the Germans proclaimed martial law and plans were made to deport Denmark s Jews in a surprise attack on the Friday night of the first of October, a few hours after the termination of Rosh Hashanah. However, the information was leaked to the Jews, and by a spontaneous action of almost all the Danes, the Jews were hidden for a few days or weeks and then smuggled, in some sort of boat, to nearby Sweden. Docudrama on this Rescue A docudrama entitled Miracle at Midnight was produced by John Davis in His father-in-law was George Hubner, a non-jew who had hidden a Jewish family in his house. For dramatic purposes the film was not entirely supported by historical facts. The film took eight years to produce and due to financial considerations and the fact that the topography of the Danish harbor had changed, the filmmakers went to Ireland in order to film. It was first shown on ABC television on Sunday 17 May *********************** 1 New York Times: Cover Story 17 May 1998

3 In the Film sections of this paper, the approximate location in minutes for each scene is given. The footnotes in the History sections, just give the surnames of the authors of the books and articles referred to in the text. For further information, one should go to the Bibliography at the end of this paper. There one can find in alphabetical order the full names of the authors, the titles of their works, the names of the publishers and the dates of publication. ************************** The Koster family Film: Throughout this film, the Koster family play a prominent part. Dr. Karl Koster is the chief surgeon at the Christiana Hospital in Copenhagen. Also appearing in this film is his wife Doris, his son Hendrik who was a student at the university and also an active member of the Danish resistance, and his daughter Else aged about twelve. History: Dr. Karl Koster existed in real life and was the head surgeon of the Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen. 2 The question to be asked is about the other members of his family who appeared in the film? Was the name of his wife Doris? Did he have a son who was a student at the university and a member of the Danish resistance? If he did have such a son, was his name Hendrik or was it some other name? Did he have a daughter aged about twelve named Else, or was it some other name? These questions were sent to the Bispebjerg Hospital, but unfortunately, they were unable to answer any of them. 3 Illegal publications by the Danes Film: Dr. Karl Koster s son Hendrik, who was a student at the University, was, at first unknown to his father, an active member of the Danish resistance. One of his activities was distributing resistance literature. One day, on his way to university, his bag was searched although nothing incriminating was found. [2 minutes] He later told a fellow student resistance member: I was searched this morning. He only spent a second going through my bag but had he looked through everything he would have found 20 of these anti-german leaflets in one of my books. [5 minutes]. History: As the war progressed more and more illegal newspapers were produced which swamped the country. 4 By 1943 the circulation had reached 2,600,00 (in a population of just 4 million). Most of them were mimeographed sheets. 5 There were 552 underground newspapers. 6 Even the students 2 Werstein p s between the author of this paper and the Bispebjerg Hospital, 14 and 15 May Yahil p.228

4 themselves published illegal papers. 7 The student Jørgen Kieler reports that his apartment was turned into a printing office during the spring of 1943 and it became the headquarters for a group of students who produced illegal papers and books. 8 Herbert Pundik writes, that as a fifteen-year-old, he was involved in distributing illegal anti-nazi newspapers (and he was told off by the Chief Rabbi of Copenhagen Max Friediger for doing so!) 9 The first anti-german leaflet was distributed by students just a few hours after the Germans occupied Copenhagen. 10 Youth in Danish Resistance Film: Hendrik and a fellow student at the university, Jørgen Christiansen, took an active part in seizing German guns whilst they were being loaded into German trucks. They made a distraction by making a fire in the area and then brought their own truck in which to load the German guns. [6 minutes] History: Students used various method to get the German guns. 11 The saboteurs tended to be quite young, often no more than seventeen years of age. 12 Most of the Danish youth eventually joined the resistance movement. 13 Two students of medicine, Jørgen Kieler and his brother Flemming were among the founders of the resistance organization called Holger Danske. 14 Jørgen Kieler explained how he began his sabotage work, namely, he and his friends got hold of some explosive material and made an attempt to blow up a railway bridge. Since they were completely unsuccessful they realized that they needed instruction on how to do so and accordingly they decided to continue their efforts. 15 Attacks on German soldiers by Danes and treating them by Danish Doctors Film: A Lieutenant Edgar Schmidt was shot during a resistance attempt to seize German weapons [10 minutes] and was brought into the Christiana Hospital where 5 Yahil pp fn.19; see also Stone pp Werner p.19 7 Goldberger p.143; Werstein p.24; Werner p.18 8 Goldberger p Ibid. p Werstein p.17; Werner pp Werner p Goldberger p includes a photograph of 3 such youngsters and Werner p.21 has a photograph of 7 of them 13 Werstein p.9 14 Pundik p Goldberger pp

5 he was treated by Dr. Koster who said to him: You are going to recover nicely Lieutenant but you ll have to endure our hospitality for a few days. I want to make sure there s no infection. [8 minutes] History: No record has been found of such an incident with a Lieutenant Schmidt or even of a soldier with a different name. Germans did not use the Bispebjerg hospital (the hospital of Dr. Koster) but preferred their own facilities, 16 although it cannot be excluded that an injured German would be brought into this hospital. There were attacks on Germans and even the killing of them. In August 1943, in the town of Odense, a German officer was badly beaten up by an angry crowd. 17 In the next month, on the evening of 7 September, a sergeant of the Cholm police battalion, which had come to Denmark that May at Best s request, was murdered in the center of Copenhagen. 18 A German sergeant was waylaid by husky Resistance youths who beat him senseless and took his papers, uniform and weapons. 19 Danish hospitals treating members of the underground Film: A member of the resistance, Jørgen Christiansen, who had been wounded by the Germans was brought to the hospital where he was treated by Dr. Koster. [9 minutes] When he returned home, Koster informed his wife of the incident telling her: I treated him. Then I changed his name and altered the records. [13 minutes]. Before Jørgen had fully recovered he discharged himself from the hospital and joined the other students in order to save the Jews. [25 minutes] History: Even before the state of emergency had been declared by the Germans, the various hospitals treated wounded members of the underground. 20 Doctors put such patients in hospitals with false names. 21 A student leader named Arne Sejr, whilst still recovering from a wound received in a sabotage action, was at that period leading his comrades into the action to help the Jews. 22 Perforated Ulcer Film: Whilst treating the member of the resistance who had been wounded, one of the nurses pointed out to Dr. Koster: Under the new rules we re required to report him to the Germans. Do we have to Dr. Koster? To this Dr. Koster 16 Werstein p Yahil p.122; Pundik p Yahil p Werstein p Yahil p Lidegraad p Werstein p.75

6 replied: The Germans don t have to hear about every perforated ulcer and we don t have to give his real name. [9 minutes] History: Why did the film particularly use the example of perforated ulcer?! Possibly the reason is that in late 1942, a resistance fighter was shot by the Germans whilst trying to blow up a factory. He was brought to the hospital where Dr. Koster operated on him. He admitted him under a fictitious name, putting down on his medical chart that he was suffering from a perforated ulcer. 23 Martial Law Film: During the summer of 1943 there had been an uprising by the Danes, with riots and strikes. As a result, Best went to Berlin. Following his return, on Monday 27 September 1943, Best informed Duckwitz that Hitler had shown faith in him by retaining him as the head of the occupying forces. He added that he was going to make it clear to the Danes who s in charge. He then went on to say that he had declared martial law and listed measures he would take. [11 minutes] However, the film does not state when Best declared martial law. History: During the summer of 1943 there was an increase in the actions of the Danish resistance. In August 1943, Hitler ordered Best to come to Berlin and there he told him that he did not like Best s negative attitude towards the deporting of the Danish Jews and warned him that if conditions got worse Best would be demoted. 24 During August the strikes and protests increased and on 28th of that month the Danes were given an ultimatum by the Germans which they rejected. 25 Martial law was thus declared on 29 August At that period Hitler demoted Best. 27 Just over a week later, Best sent a telegram to Berlin giving details of how he intended to implement the deportation of Jews. Hitler was so pleased that he restored Best to his original position. 28 Nothing has been traced of a visit by Best to meet with Hitler towards the end of September. Curfew in Denmark 23 Flender pp Ibid. p.39; Pundik writes that Best received a severe reprimand delivered by Ribbentrop in the name of Hitler (Goldberger p.79); also mentioned by Yahil p Flender pp Werner p.29, p.183; Pundik p.145; Lidegraad p.40; Werstein p.9 27 Flender p Ibid. p.44

7 Film: One of Best s measures after declaring martial law was imposing an earlier curfew. [11minutes] Any further details of the hours of the curfew (or the earlier curfew ) were not given in the film. History: Following the acts of sabotage by the Danish resistance in August 1943, the Germans gave an ultimatum to the Danes which included curfew to be imposed as from 8.30 p.m. This was rejected by the Danes and as a result on 29 August 1943, the Germans declared a military state of emergency which included a curfew at nightfall. 29 In his book Aage Bertelsen states that the curfew began each night at eight o clock. 30 About 6 October the curfew on Copenhagen was lifted but was then reimposed. 31 Rationing of food Film: Another one of Best s measures was imposing stricter rationing laws. [11 minutes] Despite this, when serving up the dinner, Doris Koster tells her husband: Chicken. I managed to find a chicken. Dr. Koster replies: I wish I were as well connected as you are. [12 minutes] It would seem that the source of the chicken was not official! History: In the early days of the occupation, the Danes were made to introduce rationing. 32 At the time of the planned deportation of the Jews, there was rationing in Denmark and essential products could be obtained only with food coupons. 33 The underground supplied ration cards to families hiding Jews in order to be able to buy food to feed them. 34 Deporting the Jews Film: At his meeting with Duckwitz on 27 September, Best informed him: I ve written a telegram to Herr Eichmann recommending that we begin deporting the Jews. In reply to Duckwitz reservations on this, Best said: Arresting the Jews is inevitable. I simply want the credit for it. [11 minutes] History: It was on 8 September 1943, that Best sent a telegram to the German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop - not to Eichmann. In it he wrote: measures should now be taken towards a solution of the problem of the Jews I would then have to legislate by means of decree. In order to arrest and deport 29 Flender pp.40-42; Yahil p Bertelsen p Joesten, (VQR Winter 1944) 32 Yahil p Ibid. p Werner p.58

8 some 6,000 Jews (including women and children) at one sweep it is necessary to have the police force I requested [in a previous telegram]. Almost all of them should be put to work in greater Copenhagen where the majority of the local Jews live. Supplementary forces should be provided by the German military commander in Denmark for transportation. Ships must be considered a prime necessity and should be ordered in time. 35 Listening to foreign news stations Film: Hendrik had a radio in an upstairs room in the Koster family house and would listen to the BBC news. Dr. Koster entered this room whilst Hendrik was listening and tells him that one can hear the radio all the way downstairs. Hendrik replies: Nobody can hear it on the street. Koster answers: If you listen to the English news you keep it down. You know having this radio upsets your mother? [14 minutes] History: The Germans forbade the inhabitants of countries under their occupation to listen the BBC and other foreign stations, although many dud so secretly. 36 However, Carsten Holbraad, 37 Jeremy Bennett, 38 and two books in Danish 39 report that in Denmark it was legal to listen to the BBC, although many Danes thought that it was illegal. 40 This misconception was obviously so wide spread that Werstein wrote: In farmhouses and attics, ordinary Danes listened to BBC on illegally owned shortwave receivers. 41 Christian Soe writes that German soldiers would regularly come to his mother s house to listen to the BBC news. 42 It should be noted that the Germans tried to jam the BBC broadcasts but the Danish resistance actions against the German jamming was very effective, especially in the latter part of the war. 43 Yellow Star 35 Telegram no from Werner Best to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, 8 September reproduced by Yahil pp ; Flender p.44 and Kreth pp.24,144 fn.14 also mention this telegram but do not state the recipient. 36 Seul, p.106; Zerubavel p Holbraad p Bennett p.4 39 Christensen (no page numbers); Lund-Jensen p Holbraad p.96; Christensen (no page numbers) 41 Werstein p.79 - Goldberger also writes that most Danes listened to the BBC but he does not state whether or not they thought if it was illegal. (Goldberger pp ) 42 Werner p Bennett pp.3, 4,182 fn.1

9 Film: When viewing films or photographs of Jews in countries under Nazi occupation, one immediately notices that they are all wearing a yellow star on their clothes. However, in this film, no yellow stars are shown. History: This is not an error. The Jews of Denmark were never required to wear a yellow star. There is an account made popular in Leon Uris book Exodus that following the order that the Jews must wear a yellow star, the king of Denmark, King Christian X, said he would wear the first yellow star and he would hope that every loyal Dane would do so. The next day all Denmark turned out with the yellow star and the Germans then cancelled the order. 44 However, this is pure fiction. The Nazis gave no such order in Denmark. 45 An Icelandic researcher found a possible source for this fiction. It stemmed from a British report in 1942 which predicted that should the Jews be forced to wear a yellow star the King of Denmark would wear one. 46 The source of the British report seems to be an article in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency of 4 September However, in contrast, Irving Werstein writes that there was an abortive attempt to force Jews to wear a yellow star but soon after the order came out it was rescinded, 48 but he gives no source for this information. Break-in at Jewish Community Center Film: A very brief shot of a break in at the Jewish Community Center by two men in civilian clothes is shown. [16 minutes] At the engagement party of Rabbi Abrams daughter, a group of the participants were informed: You must not have heard what happened last night. The Jewish Community Center was broken into. Records were taken, lists of Jews names, addresses, thousands of them, friends names, our names. [17 minutes] Ode Andersen, a former Minister of the Danish government then went to complain to Best about this break in and the theft of lists of addresses of Jews by the SS and the conclusions which could be drawn from this. Best answered: That may have to do with the census one of our departments is compiling. I ll have someone look into the matter. [18 minutes] History: The Danish Listening Post writes: As early as August 31, the registers of births, deaths and marriages in the Jewish community were seized. 49 Following this raid, the Director General of the Danish Foreign 44 Uris p Vihjálmsson 46 Berlingske (Danish newspaper), 1July photocopy appears in Vihjálmsson p Werstein p Danish Listening Post, vol.1 no.36, 20 October 1943 p.3; Lidegraad p.57

10 Ministry, Nils Svenningsen, visited Best that evening asked him about the incident and that the action had caused consternation among the Jews, who regarded it as the prelude to further measures against themselves. He then added that Best denied knowing anything of all this and that he had not occupied himself at all with the Jewish problem. 50 A further raid was made on the Community Center on 17 September in which lists of members were taken. 51 Again, Svenningsen lodged a complaint but the Germans again furnished an evasive and reassuring answer. 52 The break-in on that day had been done by the German security police dressed in civilian clothing. 53 Rabbi Marcus Melchior comments on this break-in: They were supposed to be after membership lists with addresses. If that was the case, they must have been disappointed, since the board of the community had foreseen this situation and removed the lists to a safe place. He then added that despite this, from other sources, the Germans were able to build up fairly complete lists. 54 In contrast, there is another opinion which states that there was dissatisfaction that the community leadership had not taken better care of these lists, thus enabling the Germans to get hold of them. 55 Further reference to the Germans obtaining the names of Jews were made in a lecture given by Bo Lidegaard, a Danish historian, diplomat and author: The Gestapo had made a holdup in the Jewish community, had the lists of names, and estimated there would be between six and seven thousand Jews. 56 Flender writes that after Svenningsen had left the German Embassy, Best confided to Duckwitz that the seizure of the records was in preparation for the arrests of the Jews. 57 In addition, during the early years of the German occupation of Denmark, the Nazis searched through the telephone books and directories compiling list of Jewish names. 58 Two transport ships 50 Yahil p.169 who obtained this information from the documents of the Nuremburg trials; Goldberger p Lidegraad p Danish Listening Post, op.cit. p.3; Yahil pp ; Goldberger pp.44-45; Flender pp.47-48; Holbraad p Werner p Melchior pp ; the hiding of these lists is also mentioned by Goldberger p Foighel p Bo Lidegaard, lecture at 41 minutes 57 Flender p Lowffler p.48

11 Film: In order to find out when the arrest of Jews would begin, Duckwitz innocently told Best: There are two transport ships ready to sail from Hamburg whenever you need them. Have you thought when you may begin the arrests? Best then gave him the answer to the exact minute. [18 minutes] History: It was shortly before midnight on 29 September 1943 that two transport vessels, one of them being the Wartheland dropped anchor in Copenhagen harbor. 59 The Wartheland could hold up to five thousand people. 60 Together these two ships were capable of holding the entire Jewish population of Denmark. The time of starting arrests of Jews Film: Duckwitz asks Best when he going to start doing the arrests, to which Best answers: I m rather pleased with myself. I had an inspiration. This Friday is Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year. Duckwitz answers: Ah, yes, of course. The Jews will be at home to celebrate. Best then replies: We ll round them up in one mass operation, to which Duckwitz says: A surprise attack, Best replies: Exactly, October the first, midnight, at the stroke of midnight. [18 minutes] Later in the film, a clock shows midnight, a lorry draws up, numerous Germans alight and receive instructions: Search every house, find every Jew. [41minutes] History: In 1943, Rosh Hashanah in fact, began on Wednesday night, 29 September. 61 The planned arrests were actually a few hours after the termination of Rosh Hashanah, on the Sabbath eve. However, the time of the planned arrests of Jews was not at midnight but two hours earlier at 10 o clock. (Maybe stating midnight in the film was more dramatic!) From the extant logs of the police that night one can see that the arrests began just after ten o clock. 62 Duckwitz contact from the now resigned Danish Government Film: On a number of occasions in this film, are shown meetings between Duckwitz and a man named Ode Andersen who had been a member of the resigned Danish government. [19 minutes] The meetings took place on a park bench with Duckwitz looking around to see he was not being watched. Duckwitz then went and informed Anderson: It s what you feared. Although the film does not actually show Duckwitz telling Andersen the time of the arrests, it is obvious from the sequence of the film that he did so. [19 minutes] A meeting between Andersen, Koster and Rabbi Abrams then took place to plan a 59 Flender pp Lidegaard pp.151,154; Spiegel 61 information from Hebrew date converter 62 Lidegaard p.148

12 strategy of what to do. [19 minutes] No other members of the resigned Danish government appear in the film. History: No-one with the name Ode Andersen has been traced. There was a man called Alsing Emmanuel Andersen, the former Danish Minister of Defense, who was then the acting chairman of the Danish Social Democratic Party. 63 However, it was not with him whom Duckwitz met, but with Hans Hedtoft, the former Prime Minister of Denmark, and furthermore the meetings took place not in the park but in the old Workers Assembly House. The two had been in contact with each other throughout the occupation. At a meeting held on 28 September, Duckwitz told Hedtoft: The disaster is here. Everything is planned in detail. Ships will anchor in the roads off Copenhagen. Those of your poor Jewish countrymen who get caught by the Gestapo will forcibly be brought on board the ships and transported to an unknown fate. In reply, all that Hedtoft could say was Thanks for telling me. Duckwitz then disappeared. 64 Hedtoft then met alone with the head of the Jewish Community, Carl Bertel Henriques, and informed him what was planned, 65 who in turn passed on the message to Rabbi Melchior. 66 Rabbi Melchior was also informed of the intended roundup of Jews by Alsing Andersen s secretary. 67 No record has been found of a meeting between Hedtoft and Dr. Koster. Rabbi warns congregation Film: Thursday morning 30 September 1943, (the first day of Rosh Hashanah), 7 o clock in the morning, in a scene of a full Synagogue. Rabbi Ben Abrams announces: My friends, there will be no service this morning. I have urgent news. Late last night I received word of something we have feared but felt could never happen in our beloved Denmark. Tomorrow night at midnight the Germans will begin mass arrests of Jews. Anyone found at home on Rosh Hashanah will be taken. The congregation were stunned at this announcement, with one congregant standing up and saying: It s not true. I don t believe it. It s not possible. They have left us alone for three years. Why would they begin rounding up Jews now? Rabbi Abrams continued: Believe me, you must not be at home Friday night. Ask your Christian friends to take you in. They will be generous. Tell everyone you know. Pass the word. If ever word needed to pass swiftly it is this word. Go now. Go and be safe my friends. [20 minutes] 63 Wikipedia Alsing Andersen 64 Bertelsen p.17-18; Lidegraad pp.71-72; Werstein p.67; Goldberger p Bertelsen p Wikipedia Rescue of the Danish Jews 67 Yahil p.207; Pundik p.151; Melchior p.179; Flender p.52

13 History: No Rabbi with the name Ben Abrams has been traced. However, such an announcement was indeed made in the Synagogue and the Rabbi doing so was Rabbi Marcus Melchior, the acting Chief Rabbi of Copenhagen at the time. The announcement was made on Wednesday morning 29 September, the day before Rosh Hashanah, (and not on 30 September, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, as stated in the film). 68 Different numbers of worshippers at that service have been given. One source states that since it was a weekday service there were only 20; 69 another source gives the number as about 80, 70 whilst Rabbi Marcus Melchior himself is quoted as saying more than one hundred persons. 71 Rabbi Melchior comments that being the day before Rosh Hashanah there was a special service that morning 72 he probably meant the large number of Selichot [Penitential prayers] recited that morning. At what stage of the service did Rabbi Melchior make this announcement? He writes: At a very solemn moment, I interrupted the service to make the announcement. 73 Other sources suggest it was after the service and that Rabbi Melchior then added that the services on Rosh Hashanah were cancelled. 74 Unlike the film, no source states that the service was cancelled that morning. The arrest of Jews which had been planned for 1 October at midnight (actually 10 o clock that evening) would have been on the evening of the Sabbath, a few hours after the termination of Rosh Hashanah, but still at a time when families are at home. His son Bent Melchior (who after his father s death became Chief Rabbi of Denmark) said in the documentary: My father interrupted the service went up and told the community the message that we had received. The documentary then shows (in presumably in an archival clip) Rabbi Marcus Melchior saying (translated into English): Leave your homes. Go to your Christian relatives and friends and make sure you can stay there for now, then we ll wait and see. I should add that the vast majority of those present that morning actually understood that there was no hope left. 75 However, there were many other Jews 68 Melchior p.179; Bent Melchior Interview (B nei Brith Europe, reproduced on Internet) 69 Yahil p Werner p Melchior p.179 however, Yahil (p.483 fn.51) writes that Rabbi Melchior states there were Melchior p Ibid. 74 Werner p.41; Yahil pp The Danish Solution, documentary at 17 minutes 30 seconds

14 who did not believe that there would be a roundup. It can t happen here in good old Denmark they said. They had to be told several times before they drew the necessary conclusions. 76 Hiding the Rabbi and his family Film: Dr. Koster suggested to his wife that they hide Rabbi Abrams and his family in their attic. However, his wife disagreed claiming that it could endanger their own family. [21 minutes] However, despite her objections, they were hidden in their attic. [29 minutes] History: Rabbi Marcus Melchior and his family were not hidden in Dr. Koster s house. They were first hidden in the house of Reverend Hans Kildeby in Orslev, which is fifty-five miles west of Copenhagen. The Reverend put three rooms at their disposal which was virtually his whole residence. Later, they stayed at Bishop Plum s residence together with 150 other refugees. 77 The later location was confirmed by Rabbi Melchior s son Bent in an interview, although he gave a figure of 60 rather than (This whole scene in the film of the Rabbi s family hiding in the Koster residence is thus just drama. It is possible that other Jews were hidden in the Koster house, but nothing has been traced on this.) Hospital where Jews hid Film: Dr. Koster, the chief surgeon at the Christiana hospital in Copenhagen, calls together his staff on Thursday 30 September at 10 a.m. and says: What can we do, how can we help? I propose we hide people, here in the hospital. It might only be for one night, two nights, until they can get up the coast and go to Sweden. I m not going to pretend there isn t danger in this We d all be taking a big risk. But if we work together I think we can do it. In answer to the question why the hospital should do so, Koster answered: We have the space we can use ambulances to move people and we are in the business of saving lives. The head nurse replied: The first thing I can do is have my staff to change the Jewish patients names to Christian ones. Another nurse then commented: We have empty beds and can admit the Jews as patients. Another asked: What about the psychiatric department? and received the answer: The Germans aren t likely to look there. They d be afraid they d catch something. Another suggestion was: We can hide them in the morgue as well. The head nurse then said: Also in the nurses quarters. The nurses can 76 Yahil p.216 quoting evidence given to Yad Vashem (Yahil p.483 fn.52) 77 Melchior pp BBC World Service interview on WITNESS, 8 October 2013 with Bent Melchior

15 double up and then summarized the situation: I think my staff will not only want to do this but would be ashamed not to. [23 minutes] History: No hospital in Copenhagen by the name of Christiana has been traced. (There is however in Copenhagen an area known as Freetown Christiana which was established in 1971 by a group of hippies who occupied some abandoned military barracks on the site and developed their own set of society rules, completely independent of the Danish government.) However. in real life there was a Dr. Karl Koster, who was the Director of the Bispebjerg Hospital which was built between 1907 and A paper on this hospital states: Dr. Koster, who was in charge of Bispebjerg Hospital, was instrumental in arranging for hundreds of Jews to be hidden at the hospital before they made their escape to Sweden. The psychiatric building and the nurses' quarters were filled with refugees, who were all fed from the hospital kitchen. Virtually the entire medical staff at the hospital cooperated to save Jewish lives. 79 The psychiatric building had the most room and was considered to be one of the least likely sections of the hospital to be searched by the Germans. 80 The head nurse, Signe Jansen, at this hospital played an important part in this rescue operation. 81 She reported that the nurses were willing to give their rooms a total of thirty nurses rooms were made available for the Jews. In addition, in some cases the nurses doubled up or slept on couches or on the floor of their rooms. 82 Several others added further details to this hiding of Jews in hospitals (Bispebjerg and/or other Copenhagen hospitals): Dr. Wendell A Howe writes: Beds were quickly filled up with healthy Jews rechristened with non-jewish names in their charts. Out buildings were quickly filled up. 83 Leo Goldberger, a Jew living in Copenhagen, remembers: Doctors put patients they knew in hospitals, under false names and false diagnoses. German measles was one of them. 84 Amelia Frye wrote: At the hospital [name of hospital not specified], hundreds of Jews were hidden in the morgues and psychiatric wards. 85 It should be mentioned that Bispebjerg hospital was an ideal place to hide Jews, since the hospital has thousands of rooms, almost impossible to count. It also has dozens 79 Levy 80 Flender p Werner p Flender p Howe 84 Stitzman; changing the names of Jewish patients is also mentioned in Lidegraad p.245 and by Loeffler p Frye

16 of buildings connected by miles of underground tunnels. It is virtually impossible for anyone unfamiliar with the buildings and the tunnel system to find people who are hidden throughout the campus. 86 Werstein added that this hospital covered many wooded acres and that the Germans preferred their own medical facilities and did not use this hospital. 87 Passing around the word of the planned arrests of Jews Film: Hendrik who had heard his father talking about the planned roundup of Jews, met with his university friends and told them: We have to get the word out. Skip your classes. This is more important than any class. Other students in the group then added their own comments: I'll go to the dean, get names of Jewish students. My history professor is Jewish. He can tell the faculty. I pass by a Jewish butcher shop on the way to school. He'll know of other Jewish businesses. Tell our parents. They all have Jewish friends. Hendrik then said: That s the idea, all right? One person will know dozens, book sellers, shop keepers, policemen. The Danish police hate the Germans as much as we do. [24 minutes] History: The information regarding the proposed deportation of Jews was quickly passed around the Jews of Copenhagen. 88 On this, Herbert Pundik writes: One of those present [in the Synagogue when Rabbi Melchior made his announcement] called my father who in turn called his old father and his brothers. In the course of a few hours almost all the Jews in Copenhagen had been notified of the German plans. 89 Robert Pedersen, who was aged 17, recounted how he went from house to house in certain neighborhoods looking for name plates that indicated a Jewish family. He would ring the doorbell and persuade the people to pack up and go to the Bispegjerg hospital where Jews were assembling. 90 Jørgen Knudsen ripped out the pages of a public telephone directory, hid it under his coat, and used it to ascertain the addresses of Jews. 91 Already by 24 September, Werner David Melchior, son of Rabbi Marcus Melchior, and a leader of the Zionist youth organization, warned his friends by telephone to prepare for a rescue to Sweden Levy 87 Werstein p Flender p Pundik p Ibid. p Flender pp Goldenberg p.81

17 Ships to deport Jews Film: Duckwitz informs Best: Your ships on the way. They should be docking at 4.00, about two hours from now. [26 minutes] History: It was just before midnight on 29 September that ships, including the Wartheland, arrived in Copenhagen harbor. 93 (It is likely that these were the ships referred to by Duckwitz in the film.) German officer in charge of arrests of Jews Film: Werner Best greets Major Langer: Welcome to Copenhagen, who then replies: It is an honour to be part of such an important mission, General. Best then tells Langer: This is Herr Duckwitz, our naval coordinator. Duckwitz says to Langer: Reichs-Marshal Himmler has spoken very highly of you Major to which Lange replies: He is most kind. Best then says to Langer: Major, this operation is very dear to my heart. It must be flawless. It will do honor to all of us. [26 minutes] History: Although there were several officers called Major Lange (rather than Langer) involved with the Holocaust, none seem to have been involved with Denmark. A news report of the time states that the German officer sent to deal with the arrest of Jews was Captain Kurt Daluege who was chief of the national uniformed Ordnungspolizei (Order Police) of Nazi Germany. He arrived in Copenhagen on 28 September. 94 On his arrival the Jewish Telegraphic Agency wrote: With the arrival in Copenhagen of Gen. Kurt Daluege, new Nazi dictator for Denmark, it was predicted in the Swedish press today that the 6,000 Danish Jews will soon be deported to Poland as were the Jews of Norway. The Dagens Nyheter, a Swedish newspaper, referring to Daluege s anti-jewish record, writes [on 29 September] that the first act of the leader of the Nazi Elite Guard will be to start the deportation of all Jews from Denmark in accordance with Hitler s policy. 95 Indeed his first action in Denmark was to decree the immediate deportation to Poland of all Jews, whether Danish citizens or not. 96 Although the various newspapers of that period report on the arrival of Kurt Daluege to Denmark, almost all the history books on this period make no mention of him coming to Denmark! Even a 300-page biography of Daluege by Caron Cadle just refers a reference regarding Daluege and Denmark to a book by George Creel which was written in In his book Creel writes: At this writing there is an unconfirmed report to the effect that he 93 Flender pp Joesten (VQR Winter 1944); another report states that he was already there by 27 September (Lidegraad p.64) 95 JTA, vol.10. no.227, 29 September 1943, p.4 96 Joesten (VQR Winter 1944)

18 [Hanneken] has been superseded by Kurt Daluege, the butcher of Czechoslovakia. 97 Caron also possibly hints at something regarding Daluege s location between 28 September and 7 October but does not mention Denmark. 98 Other names of Germans have been quoted by historians as being in Copenhagen at that time in order to plan the operation. They are Rolf Gunther (who was Eichmann s deputy) together with two assistants. 99 School Class Room Film: On (probably) Thursday, 28 September, a teacher enters her class and says: Before we take our lunch break I would like David, Fran and Nathaniel to gather up your things. Your parents are here to take you home. You are not in trouble. There is a little emergency and you will be better off with your families. They will explain. The other pupils in the class wondered why these pupils were told to go home and one said: Don t you see, they re all Jews. [26 minutes] History: Herbert Pundik was a 16-year-old pupil at that period and in his book In Denmark It could not happen he relates of a similar incident which occurred with him: It was Wednesday morning, September 29, in 1943, at the Metropolitan School in North Copenhagen. We were having a French lesson. The headmaster entered the classroom, interrupting the lesson. He pointed to me and a couple of my classmates, Come out into the hall, he said. He spoke in a kind voice, so apparently we were not in for a scolding. He then added, if there are any others of you of Jewish descent, you had better come along We have been warned that persecution of the Jews will soon begin You better hurry home. The Germans may be here at any moment. 100 There are also several other similar incidents which are recorded. Nine-year-old Jette Borenhoff was informed by the Catholic nuns in the French school which she attended, and fourteen-year-old Anita Melchior was warned by her piano teacher who came to get her. 101 Anti-Jewish comments by a few Danes Film: After the Jewish children had been sent home from school for their safety, the girl sitting next to Else Koster said to her: My father says its time the Germans did something about the [Jewish] problem they [Jewish pupils] 97 Creel p Caron p Yahil pp.166,172; Eichmann trial session 83, 30 June Pundik pp Werner pp.50-51

19 shouldn t be in the same school with us. That s what my mother says. Else expressed her disgust with these comments. [27 minutes] History: Although almost all the Danish population was against the Nazis, there were some Danish Nazis about three to four thousand. 102 Even though the numbers of the Danish Nazis were small, an escaping Jew had to be careful on which taxi he rode in, since there was at least one Danish Nazi taxi driver. 103 Despite the fact that there is a photograph of Best standing between two Danish Nazis, 104 and that at one period they brought out an anti-semitic newspaper Kamptegnet, 105 the leader of the Danish Nazi party confessed to his German masters that he could not master enough followers to make any difference. 106 One can see this from the Danish general election results on 23 March 1943, when the Danish Nazi party made a very poor showing, 107 with only 3.3 percent of the people voting for it. 108 Even though their numbers were small, the Danish Nazis participated in the raid to deport the Jews. 109 (It would seem that the parents of this school girl followed the Nazi s opinion of the Jews.) Jews arriving at the Hospital to hide Film: During the hours following the decision of the Christiana hospital to hide Jews there, numerous Jews arrived at that hospital (as many as 40 at a time) and were put into beds in the wards. The film shows them arriving in ambulances. One of the nurses comments proudly: I don t know what s in the air but in the past 24 hours there have been an awful lot of people needing our attention. [27 minutes] History: It is estimated that during this operation about 2,000 Jews passed through the Bispebjerg hospital. 110 For transporting the Jews, ambulances were utilized. 111 Places to hide Jews 102 Goldberger p Foighel p Goldberger p Ibid. p Werstein p Goldberger p Werner p Lidegraad p.294; Werstein p.69; Holbraad p.86; Spiegel 110 Yahil p Flender p.122; Lidegraad p.247

20 Film: Places had to be found to hide the Jews. Hendrik was actively involved in this mission and handing an address to a woman said: It s a big house just outside the city. You ll be safe there. It s 27 Istedgade at Vesterbro, all right? It s the home of a friend s parent. He s already got three families. He won t mind another, okay? Good luck. [28 minutes] History: A major venue to hide Jews was the local hospitals. Other venues were schools, sanatoriums and institutions. 112 There were also numerous Danes who hid Jews in their houses, in some cases the houses being filled to over full capacity. For example, Mrs. Ellen Nielson had over thirty Jews squeezed into her small house. 113 Istedgade is a street located in the Copenhagen district of Vesterbro. During the German occupation the local residents of this street were united under the slogan Istedgade will never surrender. 114 The ground floor of 27 Istedgade was once an old butchery and is today a restaurant. 115 above that restaurant are (at least today) several floors of tenement style blocks. 116 However, it does not seem to be outside the city but is west of the Copenhagen Central Station. 117 Fear of discovery of Jews hiding in hospitals Film: Numerous Jews were hidden in the Christiana Hospital, following the proposal by Dr. Koster. Also at that hospital at the time was the German Lieutenant Schmidt, who had been wounded in a Danish resistance attack. Suddenly the word was passed around that Werner Best accompanied by another German officer had arrived at the hospital to visit Schmidt. Jews who had just arrived to hide at the hospital were immediately put into beds as patients. At the same time, a further group of Jews had arrived and were immediately directed from the hospital entrance to the hospital chapel where a service was in progress. To divert the attention from Best discovering them, Koster escorted Best on a tour of the hospital. [31 minutes] History: Details of the above as shown in the film, have not been traced. However, there were similar type incidents. The book A Conspiracy of Decency by Emmy Werner describes such incidents: One evening Bispebjerg [Hospital] was surrounded by soldiers. On that night, 200 Jews were hidden in the hospital many of them in the nurses quarters. It was feared that the Germans would begin their search early the next day. Promptly, at nine o clock 112 Yahil p.241; Werner pp.48; Flender p Werner p Wikipedia - Istedgade 115 All Organic Pizza & Cocktail Hangout - Internet 116 Google maps 117 Wikipedia Istedgade

21 in the morning a funeral procession rolled out of the chapel. In the rented cars, which the Germans did not check, were two hundred Jews on the way to Sweden. 118 The same book also reports on a similar incident which occurred on the next day at the Blegdams Hospital: From the hospital entrance they were directed to the chapel from which yet another funeral procession left shortly thereafter. 119 German armed combatants ordered to make arrests Film: Best briefed a long row of soldiers (or police) who it was intended would make the arrests of Jews. He tells them to make the arrests quickly and cleanly but take the Jews alive. He then quotes Hitler s credo: Thy honor is thy loyalty. [36 minutes] There is nothing in the film of armed combatants arriving in Denmark for this purpose. History: The Germans who would be involved in the deportation of the Jews arrived en masse in Copenhagen some time prior to 25 September. 120 Prior to 28 September, the German security police, who were under the direct command of Himmler had been briefed regarding carrying through the action. 121 It is the norm for police or soldiers to have a briefing before going on a mission. Hitler made the statement Meine Ehre heißt Treue (My honor is called loyalty) following the Stennes Revolt in early April Shirt and Tie worn by the Rabbi Film: The ties worn by the men in the film are of the regular style. However, the tie worn by Rabbi Abrams was on a wing tip shirt. The tie was thus visible around the Rabbi s neck. [38 minutes] History: There is a photograph of Rabbi Marcus Melchior riding a bicycle and wearing a wing tip shirt with a tie. 123 Friday 1 October sundown 118 Werner. p Ibid. p Ibid. p.34; Foighel p Werner p Wikipedia - Meine Ehre heißt Treue 123 Werner p.42

22 Film: The caption on the film states: Friday October 1 sundown Rosh Hashanah. The family of Rabbi Abrams are hiding in the house of the Koster family. The wife of Rabbi Abrams lights the candles. Elsie Koster serves them fruit to dip in honey and asks whether it is correct, saying she has learned it in school. In turn Rabbi Abrams says he has studied the Christian religion and quotes: I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in. He then recited a prayer in English based on Rosh Hashanah prayers and also the blessing Shehecheyanu [38 minutes] History: Rosh Hashanah in 1943 began on Wednesday night 29 September. 124 Friday night was at the termination of Rosh Hashanah and the beginning of the Sabbath. Candles are lit both just before the start of the Sabbath and Festivals. The blessing Shehecheyanu and the dipping of apple in honey is done on the first night of Rosh Hashanah. The quote by Rabbi Abrams is from the New Testament. 125 (As was stated above, Rabbi Melchior and his family were not in the Koster house at that period, or possibly not at any time.) Entering Jewish apartments on the night of the roundup Film: Major Langer instructs the soldiers: Search every house. Find every Jew. Scenes are then shown of the soldiers forcibly breaking into Jewish apartments and finding them empty. [41 minutes] History: The evidence given by Karl Heinz Hoffman, (who headed the Gestapo in Denmark) at the Nuremburg trials stated that the German police were forbidden to open the apartment of Jews by force since a violent entry would disgrace the Germans in the eyes of the Danes. 126 Earlin Foss, a member of the resistance writes that there were some police who just rang the doorbell and when there was no answer went away. 127 However, despite the ruling not to use force to enter apartments, the Germans often bashed down doors or broke the lock, in their search for Jews. 128 Jews resisting arrest Film: During their search the Germans enter an apartment and see a Jew sitting there. The German says: Old man, you are coming with us. The Jew takes out a gun and replies: No my friend you are coming with me and he then shoots at 124 information from Hebrew Date Converter 125 Matthew 25: Yahil p.172, p.472 n.75; Eichmann trial session 36, 11 May 1961, and session 83, 30 June Pundik p16; similar comments by Flender pp and Yahil p Yahil p.184; Pundik p.16

23 the German. It seems from the film that the Germans shoot back at this man. [43 minutes] History: In his book, Foighel reproduces a photograph (which is not to clear) and writes in the caption: The hunt for Jews was quite dramatic. In this case, a Jew who resisted was shot in an apartment and is being taken away in an ambulance. 129 Two hundred and two Danish Jews Film: On the night scheduled for the arrest of Jews, Langer enters Best s office and says: I have the first reports back from the squads, sir to which Best asks: How many have been arrested? It s been three hours. There must be thousands. Langer answers: Two hundred and two to which Best asks: Is this a joke? to which Langer adds: Of those 18 were suicides, 39 were bedridden. [43 minutes] History: The number 202 is given in a report written by Best after the implementation of the operation (and produced at the Eichmann trial): In the Greater Copenhagen area 202 Jews were seized. 130 This number is also mentioned in a slightly different context: The next day, the German steamship Wartheland leaves with 202 Jews. The night of the round ups produced less than 5 per cent of the planned catch. 131 Bo Lidegraad also gives a similar figure: The harvest of the action of the night was a little more than 200 people and the [German] ship was departing from Copenhagen harbor with 207 people of Jewish origin. 132 A slightly higher number is given in a telegram 133 sent to Best on 4 October 1943 from the German Foreign Ministry and signed by Andor Hencke: Reichssicherheitshauptamt [Reich Main Security Office] announced that the Jewish action led to the seizure of 284 persons in all. 134 The further 82 Jews were those who were found in Jutland and in Funen. 135 Later a further 197 Jews were arrested whilst trying to escape. 136 The figure 202 stated in the film included 18 suicides. These were obviously not amongst the 202 on the ship, although it is likely that the bedridden were taken to the ship Foighel p Eichmann trial, session 36, 11 May The Danish Solution, documentary at 24 minutes 132 Bo Lindegraad lecture at 41 minutes, this figure is also given in his book p exhibit no T/583 in Eichmann trial 134 quoted by Yahil p.477 fn Holbraad p.86; Lidegraad p Holbraad p possibly hinted at in Lidegaard p.155